Media Matters

Lessons learned in the wine country

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Phillip Gary Smith, go2geiger Media Columnist
Wednesday, 21 July 2010

dixonsonoma Sonoma State University offers wine business diplomas. Infineon Raceway offers drag racing classes with studies in frustration, ecstasy and mayhem.

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Media Matters: Drivers try to reach mountain top

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Phillip Gary Smith, go2geiger Media Columnist
Tuesday, 13 July 2010

An unlikely set of circumstances gathered like the early raceday fog from Mt. Rainier, vaporizing into a weekend of firsts at the Northwest Nationals.

Where else but Seattle can you go to a drag race and find volcano evacuation routes interspersed with routine traffic signs. By one measure, the massive Mt. Rainier mountain range exceeds the infamous K2. For the first time since the last century (22 years), the Western Swing starts in its shadow, changing conditions normal for this venue. The result? Unique, historic -- and tragic -- outcomes.

Teams throughout the country gather at this faraway corner of the country site where they plan to summit one special Rainier peak: Point Success. Success is measured many ways in life and in racing.

The heartwarming success story of this weekend had to be a 73-year-old driver attempting 66 times over a quarter of a century to qualify just once at a NHRA Pro Stock event. Jim Cunningham nailed it on this attempt at Pacific Raceways by qualifying his dazzling red Cunningham Motorsports Mustang while a long way from his Maryland home. Paul Page commented, “He finally has done it. What a great story.” Gary Gerould in a live interview asked if spending millions for this moment was worth it. Jim humbly responded, “I’m enjoying it.” The visual of him embracing the moment was far more poignant than those three words. The single biggest upset story of the season, maybe the decade, would be Cunningham overcoming Mike Edwards’ Penhall GXP in Round 1. Edwards is a driver who has likely qualified the last 67 times he tried with many of those as No. 1. A red light ended any suspense, so Jim will have to wait until next time to win his first round. However, this story dominated the heart-warming class of racing over the weekend.

Doug Kalitta, as statman Lewis Bloom reported, went 84 events between No. 1 qualifying honors in Top Fuel. The last time he notched the pole position was the 2006 Pomona Finals.

Sporting a striking black paint scheme, Brian Thiel’s Case Agriculture III Impala lined up in the Funny Car ranks for the first time this year, only to catch a first round match with a top funded team, Al-Anabi Racing and veteran Del Worsham piloting his Solara. Mike Dunn noted, “It’s been cooler every day since we’ve been here,” meaning records were predictable; Tim Wilkerson boldly took it to a new level on ESPN's "NHRA RaceDay” show saying, “I expect both ends of the records to be broke in all three pro classes.” Del Worsham parked Thiel’s Impala for the remainder of the day by setting a speed record, one of several drivers who broke records just as Wilkerson predicted. Additionally, Tim Wilkerson won the day, which was the first time he has ever been to three straight finals. The LRS team’s 11 wins over the past three years is the most of any in the ultra-competitive Funny Car class.

Washington Top Fuel racer, Ron Smith, had such a monumental task on Sunday that if offered to climb Mt. Rainier instead, his odds would have been better lacing up his hiking boots. Qualifying for the race, a first for this racer, was a major step in his racing resume. Having to meet Tony Schumacher racing the Army rail in the first round, a daunting task, ended his day. Schumacher managed to add credibility to Wilk’s forecast by setting the track ET record.

When was the last time you remember an entire pro class backing off the start line, in effect calling a mini-strike during eliminations? This piece of theater one could never script was triggered by the anger of Warren Johnson, palpable to the cameras as he shouted-out the NHRA.

“This race track is flat-out dangerous.” His beef was the “track being prepped for nitro cars, that’s all the NHRA wants. They didn’t prep the track correctly for our class.”

Reporting from pits and cars scattered about, Dave Rieff and Gary Gerould came up with the story for the viewer: Was this just a tirade by the peppery Professor of Pro Stock racing or something else indeed? Greg Anderson confirmed Warren’s view by boldly pronouncing, “It’s a miracle we didn’t crash in the first two rounds. It’s a simple, simple fix” of adding track glue to the surface for the entire quarter mile, not just stopping at the nitro distance of 1,000 feet. In other words, add another 320 feet of track prep, which seemingly is an easy fix. The issue evidently had been bubbling below the surface for some time like a Mt. Rainier volcano. That has now changed and at this race. The issue has now officially erupted with a lava of words succinctly summarized by Mopar’s Allen Johnson: “They didn’t prep the track correctly.”

Sounding very much like a racing version of the IRS, the NHRA “invited” the class back to the line after the nitro class ran their next rounds. Television reported the winners of the first two pair would race for the Wally “final” if the field did not come back. That message from those in charge said, in effect, to the Pro Stock teams, “There, crybabies, take that!”

There did not appear to be an overflow of empathy for the racer’s predicament by the governing body, a racing situation given credibility by the fact all of the remaining competitors up and left the line. One driver complaining might make a situation suspect, but the entire class? The day ended safely as the clouds cleared, and the slicker early conditions evaporated.

Unexplained is why the remaining piece of track is so difficult to treat. Perhaps the answer lies in the famous book (and movie) by Joseph Heller, “Catch- 22,” which explains bureaucratic absurdity by explaining, “Oh, that’s done because of Catch-22.” The net result here, though, was the governing body stained its own safety initiatives by coming off like an authoritarian Mt. Rainier glacier -- not very smart but with lots of power.

Say it isn’t so! “I choked,” admitted John Force, nearly creating a tsunami in Puget Sound from the shock of this pronouncement. He was taking blame for blowing a round win by pedaling his Castrol Mustang across the center line, losing in the process to Jack Beckman’s coasting finish of 82 mph. Adding insult to the round was that all three JFR entries packed up their trailers by the end of the second stanza. Their highlight of the weekend was daughter Courtney’s safety after her savvy driving of the crippled Top Alcohol Dragster in Saturday eliminations.

Continuing to add to our vocabulary, here are a few gems from the Northwest:

The penalty box: this is the term John Force used to describe the ESPN broadcast booth. He enjoys it, but as racers would confirm, they prefer winning thus not having the time to broadcast during the competition from the penalty box. Force said, “They told me to get over here.” A smart piece of broadcast thinking by “they.”

On Saturday afternoon, Rick Green made this Summit FastNews entry:

“Looks like I have lost the TV feed, so it’s back to reading the numbers and listening to the track announcers in the Bat Cave.” That’s the answer we’ve all been waiting for! Many have always thought Bob Frey was secretly Batman.

Continuing our drag racing education, viewers discovered auto parts have ears. Here’s how: Jeff Arend continues pressing to get in the top 10 of The Countdown and bump Tony Pedregon out. Pedregon, after qualifying his Herzog Impala, indicated improvements involving changes in the car’s makeup were made in order to keep ahead of Arend, explaining the improvements this way: “It’s parts, and people telling the parts what to do.”

Aussie-born David Grubnic asked about his favorite food in an interview with Gary Gerould, recommended vegemite, a concoction consisting of left over yeast from beer manufacturing one smears on toast. There is always a first time for everything. “Vegemite tastes great,” he tells us. Its flavor reputation is well below David’s view. Paul Page concurs, “I’ve had it. It’s not that cool.” Do you remember the song making vegemite a popular word in the USA? Here’s a clue: it was before Jim Cunningham began his qualifying quest!

In 1982 the Australian group, Men at Work, recorded a bar song, “Land Down Under,” with the lyrics, “Do you speak-a my language? He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich.” Brandon Bernstein, now sporting the bright blue of the Copart dragster, once drove for a beer manufacturer who, no doubt, had plenty of yeast remaining from their brewing process. Yet, a bet is the Bernstein camp never had this spread in their luxury tents. Brandon and David met in the first round with big points implications. Grubnic’s Kalitta Dragster surprisingly ousted the Copart Blue machine.

The Northwest represents one of the strongest technology areas of the country, so it is fitting a new media was added to the menu of broadcasting options for today’s race: Channel ESPN3. This online network received favorable comments, like this fan from Knoxville, Tenn., who e-mailed, “This is like watching television, only better.” He had no problem clicking on the site and watching live racing, “just like I was at the track.” He particularly enjoyed watching real time sportsman racing, too, “a genuine treat.” Another added, “It was exceptionally clear.”

The negatives were few, but included not getting the round-by-round live feed from Paul Page and Mike Dunn (along with Statman, Gary Gerould and Dave Rieff) which adds so much to the broadcasts. Additionally the sound from the public address system didn’t carry into his pretty powerful speakers. One other note: when there is no action (as during the investigation and aftermath of the crash by Mark Niver), rather than having a static picture of trees, have a crowd shot that at least has activity and a change in the mix. No motor sport event, except for the Indianapolis 500, beats a live drag race for television viewing. ESPN3 allows real time, live enjoyment and is a wonderful arrow in the quiver of televised choices for fans.

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Media Matters: Search is on for long lost hot rod

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Phillip Gary Smith, go2geiger Media Columnist
Tuesday, 06 July 2010

From the best auto racing book of the summer -- Miller's Time, A Lifetime at Speed -- comes a challenge: find Don Miller’s long lost drag car, Big Noise II, a 1962 Chevy II Nova. The search begins now, and the finder earns fame and a growing prize package.

What does a man who has every conceivable toy, experienced unbelievable thrills, and seen both the ugly and good of life still yearn for? What pumps his adrenaline and transports him to a time before a horrifying race accident nearly severed him in half?

Order book by clicking here

Simply, that he might possess Big Noise II once again, his beloved hot rod 1962 Chevy II Nova. That car alone can whisk author Miller to a period before he struck success and a long, bountiful business friendship with racing marvel Roger Penske.

Here is how you can find and collect the bountiful prizes for Big Noise II, and in the process become a key addendum in racing history: The first person to e-mail me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with this race car’s location (or fate) with complete contact information will win. If you suspect you know the car, you should enter. Your step may prove to be the one that results in the find. There can only be one winner of the award package so be sure to include your personal contact information and put "Bounty for Big Noise II" in the subject line. Even if you don’t win the award, Miller will reward you with a copy of his book if you provide an important detail recovering Big Noise II. If his health allows, he will no doubt personalize it for you.

It’s only an old racecar, some might say. However, racing fans know how a car can be so much more. To Miller, this is a treasure of his youth, sold long ago as hot rods are, to buy a newer one. It is the thing from his past still tugging at his core. Everyone reading this can recognize a place in our personal lives where we long to go back and revive a time when the world was possible, when we were new and expectations were all in front of us.

The bounty includes a ticket package with goodies to your favorite NHRA Full Throttle Drag Race and an inside, weekend invitation to the Lucas Hospitality Center featuring Top Fuel stars Morgan Lucas and Shawn Langdon. A larger prize, the bigger trophy, is becoming a part of this great man’s history, bringing him the last piece of a puzzle, completing the racing masterpiece.

"Phillip," Miller told me, "I heard Big Noise II is in Minnesota; I want to find it."

He wants to lay his hands on the prize of his past, customized with a 1965 grill "to make it look more current," shod with Keystone chrome wheels, and originally raced with a 509ci Carolina Mountain Motor. The motor, sold out of the car, later powered a dragster when "Mr. Chevrolet," Dickie Harrell, perished in a racing incident.

Miller’s plea hit with more energy than a nitro dragster’s G-force: get this legend his car. For all Miller has accomplished, the world of racing can do this. Read of his life painstakingly chronicled in his riveting book. The heavily photographed, 300 pages read quickly, flowing like the most exciting summer novel you’ll ever find.

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The seasonal peak in drag racing in the Midwest culminates with the 29th annual Lucas Oil Nationals, August 12-15, in Brainerd, Minn. The plan is to have Big Noise II located by then, re-purchased by Mr. Miller or his representatives, and displayed at the race. The Minnesota link to Big Noise II is more than 25 years old, so the car may be anywhere. Pay attention, adventurers, look in your state, you may find Big Noise II. Just by trying, the detective in you becomes part of this once-in-a-lifetime drag racing treasure hunt.

This car is a part of the history of drag racing, one of the early runners in the United Drag Racers Association (UDRA), the Chicago-based pioneer in the unthinkable notion in the 1960s of paying cash to drag racers. That was "a notion that caused a lot of people to laugh back then," Miller explained. His earliest business partner, Ed Rachanski, organized the idea, astutely adding Miller as a circuit director. Rachanski writes, "UDRA was very successful, and a porcupine under Wally Parks’ butt at NHRA. We ran nitro Funny Cars…when the NHRA wasn’t even running nitro in Funny Cars."

Look around at national drag events today. Notice what resulted from the UDRA with its uncertain start -- you enjoy those 300 mph passes at the races. Drivers now are doing what they want, scratching an adrenaline itch for sure, but they are paid and handsomely so, supporting their families and racing organization because of this original spark of brilliant inspiration from the UDRA.

Penske discovered Miller as a rising self-starter and initiated him as a business partner for his early empire -- not bad for a guy who almost missed his own church wedding because he was drag racing. Miller led the Penske racing organization through its major growth including Penske Performance Products, Penske Racing South, engines, tires, drivers, even pioneering the whole idea of modern day souvenir trailers. He participated at every level of success and tragedy. The life had its rewards: "I’m comfortable financially. I was able to raise a terrific family and provide for all their needs."

He uses a bridge as a metaphor for the connection from a blue-collar upbringing to the pinnacle of racing championships with partner Penske: "Like a lot of bridges, before you can get across that one, you’ve got to pay a toll. I went to a race one time and when I got home from it, I was missing a leg. I very nearly bled to death right in front of Roger. That bridge collected its toll from me."

Miller and longtime partner Penske talk racing.

In every life that embraces passions, there are tragedies entangling success, squeezing it, trying to kill it like a mongoose hungrily after an ambitious snake -- the real life kind, not drag racing legends. Auto racing often calls its debts in body parts or human life. One cannot read "Miller’s Time" without encountering the black-cloaked demon collecting souls like a slot machine sucking tokens. This is one reason the history of motorsports remains fascinating.

It is not a lurid allure with suffering and death but rather the desire to learn from those who live on the edge of ultimate risk. Applying lessons learned from their extreme situations and happenstances to the circumstances we find in the crossroads of ordinary life, perhaps we can uncover clues that will assist us in growing, creating, living, surviving; looking to a life forward, not in reverse.

Those beliefs are reasons the history and emblems of racing representing those days are vital and hopeful. Racecars of every type have a story to tell. They become an important parable in the continuing biblical account of racing. Big Noise II is one of those. Who can really know where every entry ranks, where Big Noise II fits in the scheme of things, how its early existence affected the course of drag racing history? Who is to know for sure the thread of development emanating from just one dragster and the following course of events?

What we do recognize is one of the gentlemen of racing, a founder of the modern sport, is Miller. Penske credits him as "an innovator and clever thinker. I think it is a result of his drag racing background where you had to be creative to win." Further, Penske notes, "He was in the forefront of the change to a more engineering orientation in racing. Don, like all good racers, is always looking for the edge."

You will discover this legend’s resourcefulness in a tale of an ambitious Chicago paperboy flying to the stars of success in a yellow Penske rocket ship, all the while developing the best in others, giving of himself in a spiritual and tragic physical way. For his life efforts, his recognition came with the 2007 NASCAR Humanitarian of the Year award. Now in 2010, it is the sport of drag racing’s opportunity to commemorate him through a prize he covets, the return of Big Noise II to its creator.

If you enjoy racing on television, radio, and the internet or better still, in the stands at an event, you can contest the tracks of life with the passion of Miller from his book acting as your crew chief. Buying his book, "I wanted it to read like a novel," he explained, "(it) will inspire you in ways you won’t recognize beforehand."

You don’t have to buy the book to join the bounty hunters searching for Big Noise II. However, you may just uncover, buried in those pages, fresh clues left unturned, and win the honor of presenting him Big Noise II.

E-mail your knowledge of the whereabouts of Big Noise II, a 1962 Chevy II Nova dragster, with your contact information and the subject "Bounty for Big Noise II" to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Buy the book now at: http://www.coastal181.com/ or toll free at 877-907-8181.

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Media Matters: Moon over Ohio?

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Phillip Gary Smith, go2geiger Media Columnist
Tuesday, 29 June 2010

A memorable scene above the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals Friday night dressed the qualifying stage: a mega full moon offered the proverbial moon shot to those able to capture the lure of its orb. Often thought that magical and spiritual phenomena emanates from its power, this moon certainly oversaw mysterious if not downright strange effects at the Norwalk weekend. Some even thought they had come up against a blue moon.

What about a daylight moon? That was no moon -- that was the Goodyear blimp! Just its presence confirms Norwalk is a happening event. ESPN announcer, Paul Page, characterized it as a big deal when this airship shows up. As a broadcaster who has been at the biggest of racing venues, he would know.

Sparkles lit the stands when Ashley Force Hood made her qualifying run under the moonshine, an entirely different take on the word from the lore of mountains surrounding the Bristol track of last week. Cameras flashed with fanatical intensity just as her headers did, too. Ashley clocked past every aisle popping flash bulbs on her way to a popular No. 1 atop the Funny Car field once again. Her ET record humbled Poppa John as he squeezed in the field, just barely, in the rain shortened fourth session just to race her.

His Friday night session went up in smoke, but ESPN’s Mike Dunn suspected the Castrol team just overshot the mark in going for top qualifier glory, that the Ford was very strong. Ashley was a happy recipient of that data, though, when she ran her scorching lap two pair later.

That combo again, father versus daughter, meeting in the first round of eliminations created enough anticipation to keep all fans stuck in their seats perhaps aided by the stifling humidity. The upcoming Force Hood-Force duo was enough to delay more runs to the track’s ice cream store selling those one-pound-in-a-cup treats for a single dollar. Is there a better buy at any venue? Here’s betting someone asked for five dollars worth with nitro sprinkles.

John Force, erroneously thinking he was the royalty of drag racing, discovered the underlying adoration of Queen Ashley when he tried to dis her -- but in a fatherly way. As was described by the interviewers, he was only trash talking, though fans must have thought he went over the line. John found himself in a vat of trouble.

When he said conditions were brutal on Sunday morning’s ESPN “RaceDay” show, little did he know the description was his own circumstance. At every turn, Force tried explaining himself, digging himself deeper in cow pies, and finally apologizing. Down on his knees, he begged forgiveness -- makes you wonder when was the last time he had to do THAT -- of Ashley in front of the expectant crowd at driver introductions. ESPN replayed this theater for the television audience, pure vaudeville, an entertaining piece of showmanship.

The broadcast caringly spares viewers the tedium of watching all of that prerace stuff. Give this ESPN crew credit -- the race broadcast comes on, the racing begins. We don’t need the prerace prayer. Why? We’re going to get that anyway from Reverend Force. He said he prayed behind the trailer, “You know, I’m screwed up … but please let me stay in The Countdown.” All of those teams bouncing around either side of the No. 10 cutoff in the points are invited to use their own version of this message. It is working for him, Mr. No. 1-in-Points, so why the need to be original? Go ahead, and recite it. This prayer is like a pre-tested engine … weathered, ready to glow.

If you lost in eliminations, or in the finals as John Force did, you are about to learn why. Competitors can now understand with more clarity what really is happening on the track. It has nothing to do with engineering, oil, or anything racing related. Here is how Force described Mike Edwards losing once-in-a-blue-moon like today: “The only time Edwards loses is when God says move that money over here” to Greg Anderson. And we thought it was about staging, lights, crews, racecars, and all of those things.

This stuff is so real at these drag races, entertainment with the cast and circumstances always changing, it puts so-called reality programming to shame. That’s made-up life -- this is authentic. Gary Gerould, Dave Rieff, and John Kernan were out there grabbing these players, bringing the heat, which needed no help. They nailed some delightfully entertaining quips and downright great gibberish. Kardashians, pay attention; even you can learn something. Come to think of it, maybe that’s why they were on the line earlier this year.

Did you note during “RaceDay,” one driver mingled in the audience, watching the entire program standing there, signing autographs, interacting until his spot came on at the end. This is the one who really doesn’t ‘need’ to do that to have more glow on his moon … yes, it was John Force. For teams who wonder how one becomes a star, implement this great idea -- even if you’re not scheduled for the show’s dais. There are no BP little people in John Force’s world.

Luigi Novelli had his own sparklers spewing from the headers in the Friday night moonlight, providing an early Fourth of July look as they ignited a mega fireball trailing him. His sponsor, National Machine Repair -- Hey, that’s Mr. President Luigi, too -- was put to the test overnight readying the nitro railer for the third qualifying round on Saturday. And what a job the team did, providing a machine capable of running a career best for Luigi ... and under three seconds, too. This group, most with children and long stays with this operation -- Buzz Ols, crew chief, has been in the job since Day 1 -- showed their mettle with this run. Racing finalist Antron Brown in the first round ended their day prematurely. The team can be proud of the show they put on, and the work they did to run their best. In many camps, that is a win.

Now that was weird: One of the most bizarre rounds of racing in recent memory was Robert Hight seemingly asleep at the tree in his semi-final run. At least that was the way it seemed. In the other lane, John Force had wrapped up the lap before Hight got off the line. An exasperated Robert explained, “For some reason something was weird, and it was a quick flash. I don’t know what just took place.” Crew chief Jimmy Prock lost his normal cool, almost using his mythical Prock Rocket as a weapon while punctuating remarks with pointed fingers and a vociferous voice. Now watching from their comfy bus, after Tony had pointed out in Bristol the Pedregons race heads-up, here is betting you can fill in the blanks for what Tony and Cruz thought weird.

Later, Funny Car winner, Tim Wilkerson, helped confirm Hight’s confusion by noting the final round was one of the longest waits at the tree he could remember. Blame it on magical phenomena, compliments of a full moon.

Best Line in a Loss: “It was a big win for him and a bummer for us, but that's drag racing.” Jeg Coughlin lamented after being nipped by Greg Anderson by the distance of an ice cream toss at the finish. Force, losing the finals to Tim Wilkerson, gave his take on the same theme, exclaiming, “I don’t know what happened, and I don’t care. I know my guys fought all day, and that is just way it is.” Therefore, here is the takeaway, a new racing theme explaining everything with ultimate simplicity: That is just the way it is. Try it the next time something goes amiss.

Rainade?: “Skies opened up moments after the win; it was as if Mother Nature was giving Tim Wilkerson the world's biggest Gatorade bath at the end of a hard-fought game,” as team manager, Bob Wilber, described the aftermath of the victory in Funny Car. Reverend Force, trying to clarify again, explaining his loss to Wilk: “I said Edwards can’t be beat by anybody, (and) even though Greg Anderson is a great racer, the good Lord needs to move the money around. I think that the Lord is just moving the money over to Wilkerson.” Note the win secured a hold in the Countdown for the LSK team by spinning their Wild-Cherry like 777 points for the seventh spot.

In a race against the weather, the race management adjusted to the conditions by shuffling the final round order to a “first come, first served” for all classes. What a great deal! When a pair arrived in the lanes, they raced in that order rather than sticking to the traditional run order. That’s why Top Fuel was not in its established ‘last’ pairing. Great idea, it works.

LE: The Tonglet team has one of the easiest accessed sponsor proposals available online. It is colorful, exciting, and provides important data in a good packaged approach. The site importantly provides the answer to a question many have: just what the heck does “LE” stand for? How about something as simple as his name … Louis Earl.

Then what about GT? No, not ‘Gary Tom’ or anything like that. GT stands for plain old Gary Tonglet. Surprised? Team Manager Matthew Gross told me it was never a family tradition to use initials. The use was really just a matter of giving GT a nickname when he was young to eliminate the confusion of having two Garys (with Tonglet Sr.) living under the same roof. “He seemed to like GT better than calling him Junior.” The nickname happened to carry over for LE, “even though there is only one Louis in the house.”

E-mail your favorite initials to PG at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Media Matters: Dads rule Bristol on Father's Day

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Phillip Gary Smith, go2geiger Media Columnist
Tuesday, 22 June 2010

John Force goes NASCAR-- what a Father’s Day gift this would be for the circle track circus! Stock car champion and race commentator, Rusty Wallace, referenced Mr. NHRA in the Saturday Nationwide event at Elkhart Lake, Wis. Their live broadcast preceded the Bristol qualifying program. During a for-the-win restart on this scenic road course, he said a driver had better execute it drag racing style. How did he characterize the move?

“He needs to restart like John Force,” meaning to come boiling off that flag. Give Rusty credit for pulling that one out of the air and in the process foretelling the Bristol Funny Car results.

John Force revived his season on Father’s Day, restarting it just as he did on the tree -- winning every light of every round including against young buckaroo, Matt Hagan. Was the advantage gained from stealing nips on a jug of good ole Tennessee ’shine? Not! Rather, his alertness -- “jacked up” he called it -- was a credit to chugging Full Throttle, proving again he is a master of crediting sponsors. If youthfulness is a state of mind, a healthy way of life for senior racers, then watch out Funny Car class because Force says, “I am a workout nut … I am going to try and stay young.”

The only light Tim Wilkerson lost all day was to Force. He bested Melanie Troxel (“Mel is a full-time quality driver”), No. 1 qualifier Ashley Force Hood, and in the semifinals, Del Worsham. Making it to the finals after fighting recently to just make second rounds was a big step for the Levi, Ray & Shoup team, the biggest since winning Gainesville. Racing the finals against the biggest name in motorsports, the crowd on their feet, Wilkerson suffered heartbreak as the electrical glitch in his safety system that emerged in his third qualifying pass reared up like a demented demon just off the line. What really hurt was that Force’s lap was beatable, too. In the prior round, Wilkerson ran what turned out what would have been winning ET.

During Friday night qualifying, Antron Brown’s red, flaming and blue dragster powered down the track with headers blazing, accenting the patriotic color scheme while easily nailing the No. 1 qualifying spot. He wasn’t around in the finals, though. Two young fathers played those roles -- Brandon Bernstein’s revived team raced opposite the stout Tony Schumacher. Back on the line, watching these two power to a thrilling final -- the victor decided when flames erupted out of the Copart dragster’s nitro power plant -- were their famous fathers, Kenny and Don. The emotional investment in winning this event on Father’s Day was etched with anguish in the face of Kenny Bernstein -- a near win as Brandon’s lead down track disappeared in a trailing inferno -- but his son was safe.

Morgan Lucas gave his dad, Forrest, an exciting first round surprise by outracing heavily favored Larry Dixon and Al-Anabi Racing. The elated Morgan exclaimed, “This was our biggest round win this year.” The viewer could sense his relief as he stated, “Win lights make this a lot more fun.” David Reiff told this story on Alan Johnson, “owner of two Al-Anabi race teams, a cylinder heads business and agriculture operations back in California. He was happy at the Lakers seventh game championship,” after shelling out $3,000 of his pocket change for the ducats.

Pro Stock Champion Jeg Coughlin loves the heat so much at Bristol he ran two classes. An ESPN feature broadcast him leaving the line in both cars in simultaneous clips. He uses a visor to block the Sportsman tree so it only shows the final bulb, resembling closer the Pro start. The camera shows him ripping the visor off the window and tossing it down just after he leaves the line. He raced Stock Eliminator, eventually meeting and losing to the Jeg of that class -- David Rampy. Then, Roy Johnson on his return to Sportsman racing (see below) took out Rampy in the next round, only to lose in the semifinals.

Jeg made an interesting observation on this race facility, one I had not seen before. “It's a cool setting, Thunder Valley, and when they pack the stands there it offers a very unique view from the cockpit of the racecar,” meaning there are no open views to the side out of the car … it’s all fans or mountains. His Pro laps earned him a shot in the semifinals against eventual class winner, Mike Edwards. Jeg won the R/T battle but had issues with the clutch, and that was that. Now he goes to Norwalk, closest track to the JEGs headquarters.

Shawn Langdon, Lucas Oil Top Fuel pilot, also raced two classes including Super Gas. “I really enjoy it,” making some good lights until the third round when red ended his day. Mike Ruff, in the other lane, went on to the semifinals. David Reiff commented that Shawn “was going back to his roots.” Maybe this is his secret to cutting those best of class lights.

Sounding every bit like a Tennessee Tourism spokesperson, Paul Page spoke the truth when he described East Tennessee as “some of the most beautiful country in the world with lakes, mountains, and forests.” Another southern element, however, affected the racing: heat -- heat lying on the racetrack, heat burning in the pits. Sweaty drivers, wrapped in firesuits sucking out what little comfort they had, performed admirably on camera, never complaining, giving credit to the Safety Safari for their job in prepping the racing surface.

Tennessee Pro Stock natives, Roy and Allen Johnson, best demonstrated how to stay cool -- enjoy cantaloupe and watermelon, a combo Allen called “mush melon,” in the shade of their tented pits. Did you spot Roy slicing seedless bites with his trusty pocketknife? Allen achieved something this weekend he never had done at his home track: win qualifying. Exciting television and racing as each of the four qualifying laps seesawed back-and-forth against Mike Edwards as they lined up along side of one another all weekend. Allen won session one with Mike taking the night. Coming back on Saturday, Allen leapt back on top in the morning. Mike did not retake the position in the heat of the afternoon, but did run the quickest lap of the session, a positive omen for his Sunday setup.

Remaining snake bit at Bristol, Allen clicked his Mopar off early in the semifinals, only to have young whiz, Rickie Jones, break at the finish. Edwards was beatable in the finals, too, sliding around down track, but young Rickie’s red light handed Edwards a freebie. Mike Edwards, through his close association with Young Life, offers fatherly guidance to a very big family, over a million young people in the United States alone.

Sons of ‘Flaming Frank’ Pedregon, Cruz and Tony, trailered all that equipment to Bristol just to race one another. Cruz surprised the field by qualifying second, just barely behind Ashley Force Hood. Inspired crew chief, Danny DeGennaro, gleefully razzed the bigger funded teams, “We’re going to take it to them tomorrow. The heat is the great equalizer.” Tony’s only qualifying run for the weekend came in round four where he initially missed having to face Cruz on race day. Jeff Arend, though, bumped up a notch in the next lap from his 15th spot, and the brotherly dual was set. Cruz could not get by Tony who moved on only to fall to Bob Tasca III in the second round. In a prerace interview, Tony snuck in a subtle reminder about the JFR team racing controversy of 2009: “We guarantee the Pedregons race when we go to the line.”

Father’s Day was everywhere at Bristol. Jeg Coughlin shared some time with his legendary father, Jeg Coughlin Sr., as part of the track's “Donuts with Dad” promotion.
“All the Bruton Smith-owned tracks do neat programs that bring the fans closer to the people in the sport,” Jeg noted. “With Father’s Day we'll get to have some coffee and donuts with fans and my pop. He’s been around the sport for 50 years. His passion has filled a business need, and now JEGs is celebrating its 50th year. Thank God for racing.”

Racers for Christ sponsored a big crafts project for the kids where they made self-styled Fathers Day cards. The tent was teeming with these budding artists.

Best thought of the day came after this John Force speech regarding Father’s Day:
“Call your dad! My kids have been calling me already. We don’t need a gift.” Paul Page, representing the sentiments of many, said something along the order of “We don’t?”

Kurt Johnson said the best advice from his dad was, “It’s all about preparation.” Voted in by fans for the eighth and final K&N Pro Stock Horsepower Challenge driver was Warren’s Father’s Day gift.

Finally, check this out … Troy Buff offered a gift list for some dads on the underside of the wing of his Bill Miller Racing/Okuma dragster: “You can never have enough horsepower or ammunition.”

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Media Matters: The show goes on at Englishtown

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Phillip Gary Smith, go2geiger Media Columnist
Wednesday, 16 June 2010

Tragedy opened the initial ESPN race broadcast of the weekend as somber hosts, Paul Page and Mike Dunn, introduced and discussed the crash of Neal Parker’s Alcohol Funny Car, the "Excavator." Also a part of both Sunday broadcasts, the theme of their talk became "safer is paramount." The questions pondered included why the incidents here involve funny cars, and why is it happening at Englishtown. Mike Dunn described Englishtown as older (built on these grounds in 1964), the Pomona of the East Coast, and one of the shorter tracks. However, he noted four others are shorter still, though he left them unnamed. The booth concluded that questions needing further consideration are somewhat eternal: Can’t runoff areas be modernized, and what enhancements critical to the dragster need consideration.

John Force commented, "It was terrible. Stuff has to be addressed (like) safety. But that family will be okay as the Lord will see them through." Senior Vice-President of Operations, Graham Light, clinically opined the crash "was coincidence that it was here." Mounting evidence seems to be opposing that view. Antron Brown commented that in Phoenix there is a long runoff into the desert, "going on and on," minimizing the type of threat seen here.

Advancements have been made in the driver compartment, frames, and fire suppression systems. It appears similar advances are required on parachute systems even if that is later dismissed as a factor in this crash. In the tragedy of Neal Parker, if chutes had deployed the wreck might not have occurred. Sure to get discussion will be Sportsman Top Alcohol races going to the nitro standard of 1000 feet.

The following is Rick Green’s Summit FastNews Entry for the Neal Parker lap

(Note the left lane ET): "11:52 a.m. - Right Lane: Lourie took his car down the groove (in a single)

Left Lane: John Headley Runs 6.666/158.00, Now #3

Right Lane: Neal Parker Runs 5.732/249.90, Now #2

Headley spun the tires coming off the starting line and it sounded as if he never shifted. Parker ran his career best ET and speed but then never opened his chutes. The car went off the track into the sand ..."

Qualifying Show: This week’s broadcast was a ninety-minute version as opposed to the typical two hour telecast. The 11:00 pm start stole more sleep as it was delayed 20 minutes due to the NCAA Regional baseball tournament requiring extra innings between winner, UCLA, and Cal State (Fullerton).

First Pair -- What a Pair: What a run to start the racing portion of the qualifying broadcast. Force and Robert Hight both zoomed down the track with all their candles bright in the Friday night session. Hight’s Funny Car ran a record ET for the 1000 ft. era.

Run to the Zip Code?: Brandon Bernstein’s Copart dragster ran a stout 3.80 in qualifying while Cory McClenathan’s Fram ride in the other lane was setting a record ET of 3.752. This led Mike to declare Brandon’s pass was "not even in the same zip code." Paul asked, "Is this Cory McClenathan’s year? (This lap) makes you wonder."

Later Cory revealed his new secret ... He has been spending time with a legacy coach to help the mental part of drag racing. What is a legacy coach? In broad terms, they work with individuals on goals, commitments, focus, and ... stuff.

The Fram team suffered a hugely disappointing race day as the qualifying record went for naught, and all advantage was lost. The unopposed first lap looked to be a shot in tough conditions to backup the record, but the results were the same as the race in round two: up in smoke.

"Flat Tracking at the Drags": Craig Treble straddles his makeshift Pro Stock Motorcycle, his new ride since losing Schumacher’s sponsorship funding. Sliding from side to side in his run led to this flat track depiction by Dunn. Surprisingly, Craig made it to the finals. Event winner, Michael Phillips, earns kudos for giving credit to Craig for helping him "with a few things" with his motorcycle.

"Little Bit Short": Rickie Jones defined this phrase for all when he said, "We just came up a little bit short" when the Elite GXP team failed to squeeze into the Pro Stock field by a stingy .0007 of a second.

Bold Prediction: "Allen Johnson has a chance to win out of the thirteenth Pro Stock position," figured Mike Dunn considering the Mopar team had the quickest pass of the third session. Mike also selected the opening race of Johnson’ Mopar and Jason Line’s Summit GXP as an upset alert. Did this prediction hex Allen? Not in the first round of eliminations as Jason Line was the one who broke on the start.

"Nice call, Mr. Dunn," commented Paul Page. Facing Jeg Coughlin in the next round, however, the belated hex snuck in as Johnson experienced multiple problems on the line and down track, only winning an early start back to Tennessee.

Battle of the Mustangs: Mike Dunn picked Ashley Force Hood’s Castrol GTX Mustang over the higher qualified Bob Tasca driving his Motorcraft / Quick Lane Mustang. Result? Bob got to meet Ashley’s daddy in the next round, where he also put John Force’s Castrol GTX Mustang on the trailer.

Earlier, Mike pointed out to viewers the hood on Bob Tasca’s Ford Funny Car was weak. The replay video showed the ‘r’ in the word ‘parts’ painted broadly on the hood was concave from the down force. "They gotta go back and add a brace there." We never heard whether the crew took his suggestion thereby helping Bob win the whole thing here in his own backyard.

Good move by Tasca to grab John Force after eliminating him in round two and get him in the post-lap interview seeing that JFR is working closely with his team -- and it shows.

Did You Know?: Learn new terms and phrases weekly from these broadcasts such as this one: "Driving into the chutes," meaning the driver pulls the chute lever at the finish line while still hard on the throttle.

New Data Idea: After each pass, the best qualifying position of that driver flashes on the screen along with the current lap ET and speed results. Running Saturday sessions, the better qualifier at Englishtown, and most tracks, was Friday night, so that is the qualifying number shown. Even though there may be no improvement in the following round(s), and even though the subsequent qualifying number for that round is announced, why can’t it be displayed in the graphic, too?

Typical of the importance of these later rounds is Pro Stock competitor Allen Johnson’s poor No. 13 qualifier in the cool Friday night conditions. In the third qualifying round run on Saturday, he would not improve on that number but importantly was the quickest in that round. Why is that key? As Mike Dunn points out, the daytime conditions were more like those on race day. Even with a bottom of the field start, Allen’s performance in the heat of the day showed he had a good race day setup. The graphic needs to show his (worse) starting position, but also reflect the current session’s run. So, show the standings in each of those subsequent rounds. It’s a key -- Mike said so.

Best Sign: Displayed at the "NHRA RaceDay" show with a massive crowd in attendance, this choice is a take on ESPN: Eat Sleep Play NHRA

Mike’s Picks to Click: First he selected Robert Hight’s AAA of Southern California Funny Car who went out in the second round. He also wisely chose Larry Dixon’s Al-Anabi Top Fuel Dragster -- the event winner.

NT-Broke Before Staging: When was the last time you watched three dragsters win this dubious designation for their first round efforts? With Cory McClenathan’s bye round, only four pair raced the opening frame.

Best Line: "Steve Torrence with his Simple Mobile Dragster wished we were still racing the quarter mile as he would have won it," exclaimed Mike Dunn. Terry McMillen pushing his Amalie Oil dragster was flashing flames and distributing engine parts as he (barely) won their first round meeting.

Most Sentimental Round: The emotion surrounding the semifinal father/son race of the Grays could not be beat. Rookie son in his Tire Kingdom GXP overpowers the senior and experienced Johnny with his NTB GXP at the tree and the run. Johnny explained Shane for some reason had the better car, seemingly questioning himself how the heck did he let THAT happen. Minister Mike Edwards gave young Shane a sermon in the final round, his seventh delivered thus far this season. The message this time? I’m not dad.

Drag Racing Poetry: Would poetry and drag racing mix? Why not! Paul Page says the sport needs a Robert Frost to describe the sounds and sights of drag racing; he is right. Who will be among those to email me stanzas of an attempt to do just that? Adapting a Frost verse like this from The Road Not Taken does not qualify:

"Two drag lanes diverged in a finish feud,
And sorry they could not win both
But only one winner, long they booed
And looked to the finish line as I could
To watch the other win as they should."

Sportsman Broadcast: The Englishtown Sportsman Broadcast is scheduled for Saturday, June 19 at 2:00 pm.

Favorite Names in a Round: Round three, Pro Stock Motorcycles, featured Michael vs. Matt, or better still, their last names: Phillips vs. Smith.

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Media Matters: A hot broadcast from cool Topeka race

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Phillip Gary Smith, go2geiger Media Columnist
Monday, 31 May 2010

Last year's Topeka event was so steamy we used the movie title "Some Like it Hot" to headline my Media Matters column. Race day 2010 was a test of cool: cooler conditions, drivers who kept their cool, and the cool breezes known as crew chiefs.

It all started Friday night when conditions were coolest, with some of the best in the business running track records with those big header flames lit the whole way down, seemingly magnified by the darkness.

John Force was the first star, setting a track speed record with a run described by ESPN's Paul Page as "all candles A-Ok." Page then added this gem, "In Kansas, even the cows know who John Force is."

'The Wilk,' Tim Wilkerson, as he is called by the broadcasters, follows with an HRP track record for elapsed time.

Then Robert Hight secures the No. 1 slot with the only sub 4.10 ET of the weekend, coupling it with best speed of 308 mph. It's no wonder Hight later described crew chief Jimmy Prock as "the Kobe Bryant of drag racing."

Another highlight at this race was the big finals pair in Pro Stock as points king Mike Edwards lined up against Allen Johnson, who had posted the better ET and top speed. Summit FastNews’ Rick Green wrote, "This is the way it’s supposed to work out with the two best cars meeting in the final."

The character Dragline in "Cool Hand Luke" would have said this about Mike Edwards and his startling 13-inch holeshot victory: "He grins like a baby but bites like a gator."

Speaking of best pictures, "Cool Hand Luke" wasn't the only hot movie in 1968, with the likes of "The Graduate," "Bonnie and Clyde," "The Dirty Dozen," and "Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner," coming out that same year.

Tops on the film list this May weekend was ESPN2 with the coolest of racing images. They simultaneously televised the six teams of the three pro classes in their pits preparing for the finals. First, they gave a viewer enough time to adjust to the images and then get a chance to look at each. Secondly, each class was in various states of teardown and race readiness as they had arrived in the pits at different times. It was fun noting those stages, moving from image to image.

Coolest New Technology: You would almost expect that Lewis Bloom, aka "Statman," would be the first to display a new Apple iPad in use on the broadcast -- and he did not disappoint. He made a good choice for his first images displayed to the camera off his new gadget: Topeka Funny Car winner Robert Hight. "My new iPad is the greatest device of all time; photos look amazing on it," he said.

Feature Race: The Matt Hagan/John Force tilt in the first round was identified on the broadcast as the day’s feature race. Mike Dunn "leaned" towards John Force to win, which wasn’t much of a stretch -- his performance advantage was evident this day if not this year. "Hagan has his work cut out," Mike summarized. The fun of Matt giving John a set of bullhorns attached to a helmet as a gift recently added sparkle to the pair -- plus, of course, the minor detail that former Force braintrust member, John Medlen, is now Matt’s crew chief.

Force, referring to Matt’s continuing ranch work, exclaimed, "That ole cowboy knows how to get down the track in these conditions." Sure John, Matt’s old -- he was born in November 1982, 11 days before the young queen of drag racing, Ashley Force Hood.

How Many Championships?: Interviewed before his second round race with Force, Jeff Arend offered, "It’s always a good thing to race the Champion who has won it, what, a million times?" It doesn’t happen often between these two, but today Jeff won. This prompted a broadcast comment from Dunn and Page -- they actually spotted a smile coming from legend Connie "the Bounty Hunter" Kalitta.

Breathtaking: In Round 3, the most spectacular event of the day occurred when Jim Head, racing Arend, created his own version of Matt Hagen’s big blow in Charlotte. As FastNews described, "Head’s engine let go with a massive explosion. The body broke in half and went flying really high. Then there is a lot fire coming back into Head's face, and the chutes are out but he can't see where he is going."

Numerous replays from four different angles reflected the intense power of the blast. Dependably, viewers knew the broadcast team would be on top of the story and ESPN2 did not disappoint. In an interview moments afterward Jim Head, who has been a catalyst for safety, calmly stated, "These cars are so safe, it’s remarkable."

Interestingly, ESPN carried the film of the blast before the race broadcast commenced on the Deuce but failed to promote the upcoming race broadcast.

Doh!: Visibly pained, Antron Brown blows his No. 1 qualifying effort in the second round of eliminations with a big-time red-light against Larry Dixon. Then Dixon sputters to the finish, providing even more consternation to the affable Brown. "The tree caught me with my pants down," he answered honestly.

Best Movie Reference: G-man, Gary Gerould, asked Larry Dixon of the Al-Anabi team how it felt to race the Army’s Tony Schumacher team for the third time in as many races. Larry got it right when he said, "It’s like the movie 'Ground Hog Day'...We keep doing the same thing over and over." In this fifth Dixon/Schumacher match-up of the year, Schumacher won the tiebreaker.

Best Imitation of Force: Winning the first round of racing this year, Terry McMillen demonstrated the team’s effort to get the monkey off their back by stomping a stuffed monkey -- with gusto -- for the cameras. Talking like he was on nitro, he told the cameras how his team wanted him to get smaller: "Don’t worry! I’m losing weight!" Just watching this emotional display makes me look forward to his next lap. Paul Page reminded us, "More sports would like to have a showman like Force." Drag racing needs more showmen of both genders.

Close Finals: Good conditions yielded exciting eliminations and championship rounds. Paul Page happily noted, "What great racing we’re seeing today." In addition to the aforementioned 13-inch victory by Mike Edwards in Pro Stock finals, those nitro rockets racing in the Top Fuel final put on a show. Schumacher edged teammate Cory McClenathan by the narrowest of victories -- .0052 seconds -- definitely a cool race on which to end the weekend.

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Media Matters: Atlanta year's first heat race

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Phillip Gary Smith, go2geiger Media Columnist
Wednesday, 19 May 2010

The Atlanta race proved that summer definitely has landed in the South, even while some Northern tier states continue to flirt with freezing temperatures.

Mike Dunn, co-host of "ESPN Race Day," obviously still has a warm place in his heart for Atlanta Dragway as he took his last Pro victory at this country track located in the rolling fields of Commerce, Georgia. He noted, "Heat starts here, but this track holds heat well." One of the best descriptions of Atlanta's heavy southern air was made by a fan saying, "It’s a wet heat," meaning plenty of humidity to go along with the thermometer, playing havoc with any bouffant hairdos.

The broadcast kept viewers informed of track temperatures throughout the weekend with numerous shots of the digital gauge on the starting line. This brought to mind the line from a David Lynch movie, Wild at Heart: "It’s hotter than Georgia asphalt."

"Georgia, the Peach State; Here, life is the pits," quipped co-host Dave Reiff, referring to his location on pit row.

No Love for Bob Bode: What advantage did Bob Bode win for his Alard Machine Products team by out-qualifying three Funny Car champions? Dave noted, "He gets to race John Force" in Round 1 and, later, extends John’s 5-0 streak over him to 6-0.

Big Goal: "We want four or five of them this year," said Michael Phillips, referring to his goal for Pro Stock Motorcycle wins after capturing his first Wally in St. Louis. He was filmed during an upbeat visit to Team Tonglet’s trailer where, during banter with LE, tuning tips were laughingly discussed. Meeting in the first round, tuning had little to do with Phillips’ win as LE went big-time red. David Hope dashed Michael’s hope to advance his goal today with a strong second round 6.98.

Special Interview with Jim Oberhofer: Regarding his motivation and devotion to the Kalittas, crew chief Jim said, "We want to do good for Connie; he’s like another dad to me. Doug is like a brother."

'The Professor' Speaks: How did Warren Johnson describe his unique win at St. Louis" "Bizarre. Maybe it all balances out at the end." Kurt, asked if his dad is hard to work for, answered with a politically correct, "No, actually he is pretty easy." Then he added the qualifier, "as long as you do your job." Later, Kurt defined his job with a stellar first-round performance, winning with his Mark Christopher Cobalt by a tiny four-inch margin.

Statman Lewis Bloom praised Warren with this comment: "I love Warren Johnson -- one of my favorite drag racers of all time."

Is Warren really a grumpy man? "I’m one of the nicest sob’s I know," he said. It must be because he has so much free time now as he quipped, "I’ve slowed down to 14 to 18 hours a day." He’s not the first to remark that he works half-days -- 12 hours for the uninitiated -- but one of the few who claims that dedication on Christmas. His continuing drive in racing the K&N Filters GXP is a reminder to all about the effort required to compete at the top level of any sport or business.

Third is Best: Johnny Gray had his best qualifying position yet for the National Tire and Battery GXP team. Gary Gerould asked an intriguing question, "How big of a challenge has this been?" Johnny answered, "Probably more than I should have taken." Later he said, "I think we’ll get in their rear pockets," meaning he'd likely win some victory dollars. He made it to the semifinals, eliciting this bit of info from Rick Green of Summit FastNews, "The team made 25 test passes since St. Louis. It's working."

.001: A couple of these phenomenal reaction times were given special note today. One was by Greg Stanfield’s Nitrofish GXP taking out Jason Line driving his Summit Racing Equipment GXP in Round 1. I wondered what Rick Green would say about that and wasn’t disappointed as he wrote, "I've been talking up Stanfield for a few races, and he does me proud here with a stellar light."

Birthday boy Rickie Jones and his Elite GXP pulled off the biggest .001 of the day, knocking out Pro Stock dominator Mike Edwards and his Penhall GXP in the first round. Asked how he pulled off this feat, Rickie, showing sponsor wisdom beyond his 23 years, answered, "It was my can of Full Throttle (I drank) this morning." Later he took out Johnny Gray in the strangest of holeshots. Mike Dunn was perplexed, "Gray was so late, I thought Rickie had red lighted." Rick Green exhorted, "Did I talk about Hole Shot City?" The broadcast later reported that Johnny‘s foot was sliding off the clutch pedal.

Paul Page reported that Mike Edwards’ first round loss left Allen Johnson as the only Pro Stock driver to win every first round of the season thus far.

All Quiet on the Starting Line: What does a drag racer think about before the launch of their dragsters while waiting for the green light? We still do not know for sure, but the comment made by one driver, "The last minute of quiet is tough," is a very good clue it isn’t all that comfortable.

Upset Alert: Cory McClenathan qualified his Fram Tough Guard dragster higher but faced the "best leaver" in Top Fuel, Shawn Langdon. Shawn’s Lucas Oil/Speedco rail has won the reaction time stat for every round he has raced thus far in 2010. Cory is at the other end of this rainbow, but this time he wins the R/T battle and the lap with a sterling effort. Maybe Mike Dunn calling this race an upset alert inspired Cory to step up the effort; perhaps Cory needed no additional inspiration at all. However, Shawn has now lost his perfect starting line record.

Did you notice the new stat showing up on the screen, reflecting the percentage of time the driver leaves the starting line first? This kind of information displayed on every round makes the entire broadcast even more fun.

A Reverser: "New professor," Mike Dunn, gave an intriguing explanation of the gears required to back up a dragster. Paul Page remarked, "That was like watching Mr. Wizard!"

Now We Know: John Force and Ashley Force Hood line up for their second round race and then tear off on the burnout. "Side-by-side, long, smoky burnouts, that’s what I like!”

Astonishing Photo: A Goodyear wadding up on a wheel after a launch looked like squeezing play dough.

Best Call: Comparing the Dixon/Schumacher rivalry to that of the Yankees and Red Sox might be extreme, but it makes the point. Mike Dunn astutely called the round correctly by giving the edge to Larry Dixon.

Racer’s Prayer: Jeg Coughlin Jr.'s thought as he was backing up from his burnout just before he won his 50th Pro Stock race was, "God, I hope nothing goes wrong!" It was a reference to the previous race, where he broke in the final. This time he had no problems.

Best Winner’s Speech: Robert Hight, winning his final round over Ashley Force Hood in an all Team Force final, exclaimed, "I visited Ford and found President and CEO, Alan Mulally who said he is fixing Ford for the American people!" The team winning today is a part of that fix.

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Media Matters: Tommy Johnson Sr. book a brave adventure

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Phillip Gary Smith, go2geiger Media Columnist
Saturday, 08 May 2010

Tommy Johnson Sr. gets in your face with his new book, How I Survived Absolute Terminal Cancer.

"I thought about walking into his office and shooting. Yes, murder! I’d be dead from the cancer before I ever came to trial."

In this blunt, no-holds-barred edict, Johnson unapologetically lays out his views of living and dying with cancer. He is crystal-bullet direct in how he survived the dreaded disease and how we can apply his example. Perhaps one can even avoid cancer by following a list of his very detailed instructions of exactly what worked for him.

Should you follow his advice? Written by a determined cancer conquistador, you will know your answer long before finishing this survivor’s handbook. Moreover, you will enjoy a fresh appreciation of having fine health and living life.

You take a headstrong guy like Johnson -- the underdog in a drag race, but simultaneously a bulldog fighter in the quarter mile -- and put him through the emotional wringer of a death sentence with no hope, no chance. Then you let him discover -- on his own -- a way, a methodology to survive. This is what you will get: A kicked-in-the-butt Pit Bull amped with the nitro of life, which is an extreme sense of urgency, blended with 100 percent intense, personal revelation. Move out of the way, he’s coming through, obstacles or not.

To order your copy, e-mail the author directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

All can learn for our own personal lives from his book, insights you will not hear, certainly, in polite conversation. Unpretty things, too. But perhaps, it is the kind of book that can save your mother’s life, your child’s, a friend’s, or save your own. What better gift is there?

Opening his story, don’t expect a comforting read serving you a cup of warm words with a side of buttered prose; instead, expect to be confronted, challenged, and then awakened to the dangers he found on the rough, rough road to surviving. On one level, you will meet people who helped his survival. Conversely, his most forceful wrath and distaste is saved for those he thinks were booting him down death’s highway, just as nonchalant kids would kick a discarded can.

This book is riveting, no doubt about that -- no finessing his dire situation or time line. He is told to go home, get your affairs in order; you’ll never see Christmas, you are a walking dead man. And, oh, have a nice day.

Take a step back and view this tale from a different perspective. Perhaps it is his startling directness giving this message special meaning. However, there seems to be something more going on here, emitting from a higher calling. Consider this possibility: He has lived his whole life unknowingly preparing for this exact time and circumstance, where all of those past life experiences jelled, morphing into these rules for surviving and even preventing the cancer that struck him.

Maybe this is Johnson's true mission in life, his destiny, coming decades after a horrific dragster crash left his colon upside down and reversed in surgery, only found during his cancer ordeal. Maybe the true mission for his life is to preach his lessons decades after the love of his life is tossed out of a dragster in a "harmless" powder puff race, spinning her wildly in the air, her blond hair lifeless as she crashes to the ground in a condition first thought terminal.

It is his singular focus on the reader’s well-being, how he can help right now, grabbing your attention fast like being put in a small cage with a very anxious tiger.

As he writes, "Don’t be afraid to walk down the unconventional path. It might just save your life." And Johnson has not walked a conventional trail anywhere in his life, self-described as filled with "...wild women, racecars, drinking, (and) partying." But this cancer business, causing him to "stare death in the face," changed all of that. "I’m a 1000 percent better husband than before. It also made me a better father, but, most of all, it changed me into a better person."

His foibles had to be dealt with, he had to come clean before he could write these stark and literal words and mean them, before they would have validity, credibility, and the potentiality of changing your life. "I guess you can say that coming so close to death really causes you to get your priorities straight in life."

In the midst of awfulness and pain, though, come moments of true joy. For instance, getting these extra years "to spend every day with my two grandsons. I now want to live long enough to see them graduate. Now every day is precious, the sky is so much bluer, and the ones who love you and you love, mean so much more to you."

Really, you do not just read Johnson; you hang on to his intensity like a cowboy riding an eight-second bull, all the while learning from his evangelizing. So, here is short list of his ideas explained in the book; the answers remain for your discovery. Rest assured -- they are controversial. I call them...

The Top Ten Tommy Teachings:

Tommy teaches how much you should contribute to cancer research
Tommy teaches when to get chemo
Tommy teaches what to buy at a fast food restaurant
Tommy teaches when cancer will be cured
Tommy teaches how often you should drink tap water
Tommy teaches the most dangerous job in nitro engine teardowns
Tommy teaches if stress can cure cancer
Tommy teaches why cancer treatment should not be the goal
Tommy teaches how a B-17 is more than just a plane
Tommy teaches why apricot kernels are a better food than corn kernels

If reading his book on cancer doesn’t shock you into straightening out your life in many ways, the cover will. There is nothing like facing the black-robed, scythe-carrying Doctor of Death staring you in the eye, sizing you up as a full moon hangs in the background. Plus, the covers are tinted in an unsettling gangrene green.

So who should read this book? The answer is quite simple: Only those who want to live longer.

To get your copy now of "The True Story of How I Survived Absolute Terminal Cancer," go to www.tommyjohnsonjr.com.

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Media Matters: Madness sweeps Gateway

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Phillip Gary Smith, go2geiger Media Columnist
Thursday, 06 May 2010

ESPN's Dave Rieff set the scene in the open for "NHRA RaceDay" about what would become a crazy day on the track with his not-so-understated reference to the Gateway Arch: "Land of Lincoln or the Show Me State ... we’re going to show you drag racing with arch rivals."

Here are the weekend highlights:

Pick of the Day: Mike Dunn says, "Antron Brown can win Top Fuel out of the No. 16 Qualifying spot." His first round pairing with No. 1 qualifier Cory McClenathan leads to an upset victory, a smoking pedalfest with Antron exploding near the line. Mike comments, "This (win) is a little bit of a surprise." The crew rebuilt Antron’s dragster and just missed winning over eventual finalist Doug Kalitta in the second round.

Did you notice?: When the Al-Anabi team of Larry Dixon and Del Worsham were announced as guests for "RaceDay," they were already in the crowd, smiling and happy with the fans with Del busy signing autographs. At the end, Dave Rieff was tossing out hats to the good-sized crowd assembled on the cool, damp morning.

Best Sign: "Go Erica," referencing Erica Enders 14th qualifying spot, meeting up with Jeg "I want a win" Coughlin. Summit FastNews gave Erica her due in the losing lap by noting, "Enders welded Jeggie to the tree and led most of the way."

Roy Johnson: Gary Gerould interviewed the patriarch of the East Tennessee team and Allen Johnson’s father. Regarding the huge point deficit to No. 1, Mike Edwards, and even though the team is second in the points, Roy said, "It’s scary, real scary. We’re trying to get ready for The Countdown and make our mistakes now. Last year we thought we were ready but just shot ourselves in the foot."

Day’s Strangest Round: Roy Johnson had another scare in the first round as the red light came on in the team’s lane, handing the easy victory to Ronnie Humphrey. FastNews described the moment: "What got wacky is that almost immediately the bulb went red on AJ's side" after Ronnie staged. A mistake by starter Rick Stewart on the starting line was cited as the cause of the foul-up on the tree, necessitating a rare re-run of the lap at the end of the session. That result had Allen easily winning the lap. Ronnie Humphrey gave a kind version of "That’s racing," when questioned by Gary Gerould after the loss.

Busiest Man in the NHRA?: A feature pointed out that racer is ... Tony Shumacher. Filmed visiting a U.S. Army hospital and troops Mike Dunn said, "He consistently meets with the Army (groups) every single week."

Tony responded, "I figure this is a gift for me to get to visit with these soldiers who inspire us. I really enjoy the U.S. Army soldiers. I’ve trained with the Rangers, driven tanks ..."

"A terrific Ambassador for the sport," remarked Gary Gerould.

Missing in Funny Car? Ms. (possible) Double-Up, Melanie Troxel, that’s who. She has an unfortunate break in Funny Car competition due to sponsorship dollars, and then failed to qualify in the weekend’s Pro Mod Class, her other ride.

Mr. (Almost) Double-Up: Jeg Coughlin won the Top Dragster Wally in the Sportsman Class and had the ET’s from earlier rounds that seemingly had him winning the Pro Stock Class and accomplishing a feat not seen since -- do you remember? -- Pat Austin’s double-win in 1992. Gremlins attacked his motor, though, and broke a rocker arm at the start of the money round, so it wasn’t to be. Jeg gave a positive view on things, though, summing up the challenge by saying, "All the engines are still in one piece, which is nice." However, in the other lane for the final was the beneficiary -- Warren Johnson -- giving another moment of glory for senior fans. He extended the age for the oldest professional class winner by four years (he already held that honor) with this win. Rick Green (Summit FastNews) was on his game today as he noted for Warren, "sometimes it's just your day." Son Kurt Johnson quipped, "It takes luck."

Cute Car: A model of Joe Pisano’s Funny Car was held up by a fan in the "RaceDay" audience, causing Mike Dunn to remind us, "I’ve driven that." Media Matters carried a picture of that very car in a book review feature of the Bristol Dragway in 2009.

"I’m Not Worthy": Far more serious than the Wayne’s World movie "We’re not worthy" famous line, Larry Dixon makes his remark after being compared to greats like Joe Amato in the 50 wins group.

Best Stats: Did you know nitro racers Larry Dixon and Del Worsham have never raced one another in competition? They’re looking to double up with victories in their respective Top Fuel and Funny Car classes today, they said. The result? They’ll have to try on another day. Thanks, StatMan for this info -- and happy 51st birthday; as a gift, his Mom is watching "RaceDay" for the first time.

Prediction!: Here is a rare prediction by Rick Green writing for his Summit FastNews race accounts: "For Stanfield, it's simply business as usual (winning over Shane Gray in Round 1). He lays down a highly effective run. I'm convinced Greg is going to have a big role in the outcome of this season; why he's being largely ignored by other media types is a mystery to me. This team is going to make some big noise before we're done this year."

Best Use of the Word ‘Flummoxed’: After losing in Round 2, Bob Wilber, team manager, wrote of Tim Wilkerson’s investigation of the lap, ". . . Wilkerson was flummoxed by what the data was showing him." He overcame the confusion to discover, "Of all the volatile, explosive, and expensive parts or systems on a Funny Car, it was the most benign and cost-free ingredient that was lacking" -- air in the air bottle.

Day’s Most Poignant Moment: Justin Schriefer (Creasy Family Camaro) was back in Funny Car racing after the loss of his beautiful daughter, Ericka, 24, in a snowboarding accident on Cooper Mountain, Colo., Jan. 31. Although wearing a helmet, she was unable to survive the head and neck injuries. She was a nuclear medicine technician. Justin’s first round opponent, John Force, with daughters of his own, offered kind words regarding his return to racing.

"Very Tense Situation": Mike Dunn’s commentary on the fire in Roger Brogdon’s turtled Pro Stocker at about 1,000 feet in the first round.

Oh, For a Head Gasket: After his "first (Top Fuel) round win this century," as Paul Page put it, Pat Dakin, 64, almost pulled off an upset over champion Tony Schumacher in Round 2. Spewing fire from the get-go, "He must’ve had a head gasket out from the start" surmised Mike Dunn, Pat made a noble go of it. Tony won but was vulnerable with his slow 4.209.

Good Advice: "Watch the ones coming bearing gifts," said John Force after Matt Hagan gave him a 61st birthday present -- an old pro mod helmet fitted with wide Texas Bull horns. This referenced a round at a previous race where Matt said he wrestled steers for entertainment. John noted that in a round where Matt and Ashley Force Hood were meeting up. Force’s closing comment on ‘bearing gifts?’ "That’s in the Bible, isn’t it?" Try again John, it's credited to Laocoon in Virgil's "Aeneid," about the Trojan Horse.

New Word: "Puke Pit." A small storage tank for excess oil in a dragster, cited as the cause of Doug Kalitta’s fire while winning the semifinal lap with Brandon Bernstein.

Best Final?: Paul Page exclaimed the Pro Bike finals as an "incredible matchup," as two unlikely racers were paired: Michael Phillips and his incredible energy against LE Tonglet whose brother had his first win at Gateway Raceway. FastNews pointed out "Phillips sold (LE Tonglet) the bike the team is using here today."

Good Reporting: First round, Top Fuel, Terry Haddock lines up but there is no David Grubnic and the Kalitta Air dragster. Haddock of course takes the win. Dave Rieff later catches up with Grubnic who explained the frustration, "It wouldn’t ignite" with the comment, "Whaddya do?"

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